| As well as being a raving shopaholic, Jane Morris is | | | | So, how are you supposed to use Caribbean travel |
| also a dedicated Travel Buff. This is just one article | | | | guides then? How would you know which information |
| on her many visits to the lush clear waters of the | | | | to believe and which facts are outdated? |
| Caribbean | | | | Unfortunately, there is no exact answer to that. To |
| Imagine all the stories and films you have seen on | | | | get the most out of your Caribbean travel guide, use |
| pirates in the Caribbean, Spanish galleons laden with | | | | them sparingly for basic orientation. |
| gold, pretty girls all around, beautiful white sandy | | | | So once you have the basics right down to a tee, go |
| beaches, swaying palm trees, clear blue seas, and | | | | out there and discover the towns and cities on your |
| reefs that have ripped the bottom out of many a | | | | own. That is, after all, what traveling is all about - |
| fine sailing ship, now beautiful diving territory. | | | | adventure and discovery of new things. At the very |
| Well, this is what makes up the beauty, the mystery, | | | | least, when all other signs look foreign, the |
| and the attraction for many people as a dream | | | | information on museums and places of interest are |
| holiday. In fact, there is so much to do that unless | | | | great. |
| you plan your holiday carefully there is so much to | | | | Remember where such facilities exist, always try and |
| miss. | | | | look for the local 'City' tour. I did just that on my first |
| That us why it is so important that you know all | | | | holiday in Cuba over 15 years ago. After a 2 hour |
| there is to know about the vacation destination of | | | | tour on a coach, I was fully oriented with the sites, |
| your dreams - that is exactly what a Caribbean travel | | | | and then settled down to a delightful tour on foot - |
| guide offers. | | | | clutching my trusty travel guide of course, so I didn't |
| But are Caribbean travel guides really godsend? Or | | | | miss any of the delights that the beautiful but |
| are they just patronizing materials designed for | | | | run-down city has to offer. |
| commercial purposes? | | | | However, when it comes to hotels and restaurants, |
| Well, they're probably a little of both actually. After | | | | each to his own taste and budget. Remember that |
| all, the people behind Caribbean travel guides do need | | | | bargains rise in price with popularity, so there's every |
| a source of income in order to continue to publish | | | | bit of chance that that hot new deal in your |
| their guides. But a tremendous amount of research | | | | Caribbean travel guide isn't much of a deal anymore, |
| has been placed in these guides so don't dismiss | | | | considering how pricey it has become. And then |
| them as useless sales and promotion material. | | | | sometimes, too, the places get easily full with |
| What else is more nifty, informative and convenient | | | | foreigners and travelers like you, so you can't always |
| than a Caribbean travel guide? | | | | expect your Caribbean travel guide to point you in |
| Sure, the Internet may prove more updated when it | | | | the right place all the time. |
| comes to information, but you can't carry the | | | | Then, if you do wander around on your own, you will |
| Internet everywhere. And believe it or not, it's | | | | surely find quality rooms with reasonable prices. They |
| always much more gratifying to pull out a Caribbean | | | | may be located in out-of-the-way places that |
| travel guide from your carry case, flip a few pages | | | | Caribbean travel guide writers may not know about. |
| open, then slip it right back when you're tired of | | | | Remember that because you in the destination, you |
| reading. It sure beats having to wait in the airport, | | | | are in a far better place to get what you want out |
| sitting bored silly and wondering whether or not your | | | | of your vacation. |
| flight's going to be delayed. | | | | So to close it off, don't be a sad type who writes to |
| That said, don't cling to travel guides religiously. Many | | | | say that "it wasn't like what you said in the book". |
| travelers make that mistake. They are not the bibles | | | | Here's a tip: open your eyes, and if the island you are |
| that they are made out to be by some people. You | | | | on is Spanish - make sure you can speak some of |
| should know that published materials, including travel | | | | the local language, as you will get such a nicer |
| guides, are out of date the moment they are | | | | welcome from the locals in the infrequently visited |
| published, because by then, there would have been | | | | spots - and make sure you take your time to |
| new updated material that came up and it would be | | | | explore for yourself! |
| too late to include them. | | | | |