Most travel titles are put together in a few weeks by visiting travel writers. Wizard guidebooks take over a year to compile and the writers are residents who personally and anonymously review every facet of the island. Their maps are the best you'll find. From restaurants to helicopter companies to scuba to beaches to trails. They see it all and show you the best the island has to offer. They also reveal who's the worst and who to stay away from. All told in a frank, humorous way that keeps the reading fun.
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
lots of "insider" tips from actual locals:
The only thing that kept me from giving this a 5 star rating is the "web review" listings...If I am travelling around with my book, I want that to be the only thing to which I refer without having to take the extra step of going to a computer. The book has a lot of great insightful observations about what to do and see around the island. Savvy travelers and hospitality folks love the book and rave about it all the time.
great, fast service:
A must if travelling to the Big Island; this book is fantastic; fold out maps, tons of great advice.
Always enjoy:
I personally have never gone wrong with these guides. My family and I have been visiting the islands for a few decades, and ever since we found these guidebooks, we have used them exclusively. I don't know exactly how many years we've used them, but we've seen a few editions fill our book case.
While some people won't necessarily have the same experiences as the author, all of our trips to recommended areas have resulted in enjoyment. One thing to note, however, is that these guides were somewhat... more info
More for older and luxury tourists than for budget travelers and backpackers:
I purchased both the Lonely Planet Big Island Guide and this book. After spending a lot of time reading both, the differences between the two became very apparent. Hawaii: The Big Island Revealed is more suited to older and luxury travelers who want to stay in the most expensive resorts, take luxury tours, and eat at expensive, touristy restaurants. It does a great job of talking about all of these, but glosses over or ignores most budget hotels, hostels, budget-priced restaurants, and adventure-type tours.... more info
